Contacting crop plants with compositions

Abstract

Provided are methods of treating specific crop plants when those plants have reached specific developmental stages. Also provided is a method for improving the yield of a crop produced by a plurality of plants, which may or may not be any of the specific plants mentioned herein above, wherein said method comprises contacting said plants with at least one composition that comprises at least one cyclopropene.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for improving the yield of a crop produced by a plurality of wheat plants, wherein said method comprises contacting said wheat plants at least one time with a liquid composition comprising 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a solvent and at least one adjuvant selected from the group consisting of surfactants, alcohols, oils, extenders, pigments, fillers, binders, plasticizers, lubricants, wetting agents, spreading agents, dispersing agents, stickers, adhesives, defoamers, thickeners, transport agents, and emulsifying agents,
 wherein said contacting is performed during the F10.5 growth stage, and 
 wherein the contacting is performed at a rate of 1 to 25 g of said 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) per hectare. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein improving said crop yield comprises improving disease resistance or frost resistance or both of said wheat plants. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said improving said crop yield comprises one or more of improving the disease resistance of said plants or improving the drought resistance of said slants or improving the frost resistance of said slants or improving the heat resistance of said plants or improving the photosynthesis process of said plants or improving the synchronization of pollination processes of said plants or delaying leaf senescence of said plants or improving the nitrogen accumulation of said plants or improving the production of green leaves late in the growing season of said plants or enhancing the root nodulation of said plants or inhibiting the dropping of one or more of leaves, flowers, or fruiting structures from said plants. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said solvent comprises water. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method improves said yield by improving the heat resistance of said plants. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method improves said yield by improving the drought resistance of said plants. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said contacting is performed by spraying said liquid composition.